New Yellow Longnose Butterfly

Aparker2005 · Jan 17, 2023

Got this beautiful fish in today and of course our foxface had to introduce himself as the king of the tank. No aggression, just constantly swimming by it and rubbing the butterfly with it's mouth. The butterfly kept showing its fins to it.

Since then it's been in the top corner of the tank just looking down. I'm assuming this is normal behavior while settling in for these? Hopefully it'll start to get brave and eat/move out of the corner

ndrwater · Jan 17, 2023

Keep an eye... That CBB may or may not take kindly to the Longnose. Similar look and requirements. AKA possible aggression.
Try feeding a little bit. Or turn off the lights for a time.
Fingers crossed and keep us posted.

Aparker2005 · Jan 17, 2023

The CBB has been fine with it. The foxface just keeps going to the corner and nudging it. It's been in this spot up top since around 4 pm. Hasn't eaten yet

ndrwater · Jan 17, 2023

Probably short term aggression.
Foxface aren't know for their major aggression. That said, I'd still keep an eye. Fish, like people, have personalities that can be unpredictable....

Aparker2005 · Jan 17, 2023

Yep it tried to swim down and the foxface just bullied it right back to the corner. This foxface does this to any new bigger additions. Hopefully the longnose will be okay until it stops

andyman · Jan 17, 2023

Its hard enough to feed a CBB without an aggressor. I would seperate the fish OR put some mirrors around to confuse it. Your CBB may not survive if this continues.

Aparker2005 · Jan 17, 2023

andyman said:
Its hard enough to feed a CBB without an aggressor. I would seperate the fish OR put some mirrors around to confuse it. Your CBB may not survive if this continues.

The CBB is not being harassed this time, it's the yellow longnose which I figured would happen. The foxface does this to every new big addition for a day or so then is back to a model citizen

andyman · Jan 17, 2023

Hope the yellow longnose does well. Both fish looks beautiful! I have a CBB in my tank and its taken me a few years to finally get one to survive and thrive so I appreciate seeing CBB and long nose fish in other ppls tanks.

Aparker2005 · Jan 17, 2023

I'm guessing it's normal for these yellows though to swim facedown with their spines ready to go out in defense? Whenever it does try to get out of the corner it seems perfectly fine.

i cant think · Jan 18, 2023

Aparker2005 said:
I'm guessing it's normal for these yellows though to swim facedown with their spines ready to go out in defense? Whenever it does try to get out of the corner it seems perfectly fine.

I’ve seen this with my CBB, they will use the spines to defend themselves but they don’t attack unless threatened - similarly to foxfaces.
Your yellow long nose is a beauty, I’d love to find a Forcipiger longirostris some day but for now I’m happy with a 3 year old CBB. Fingers crossed for both your butterflies!

Aparker2005 · Jan 18, 2023

This little guy is getting much braver. Already out and about picking at rocks. I haven't seen it or yet, but it's definitely out of the corner.

The foxface will chase it back to the corner then get frustrated and swim off. The long nose will immediately swim around for a while and just casually goes back to the corner until the foxface leaves. I figure by the weekend the foxface will be over it. It doesn't bite at it, it just rushes it some and tries to nudge it.

vetteguy53081 · Jan 18, 2023

Aparker2005 said:
Got this beautiful fish in today and of course our foxface had to introduce himself as the king of the tank. No aggression, just constantly swimming by it and rubbing the butterfly with it's mouth. The butterfly kept showing its fins to it.

Since then it's been in the top corner of the tank just looking down. I'm assuming this is normal behavior while settling in for these? Hopefully it'll start to get brave and eat/move out of the corner

behavior yes on Long nose. They then get very curious pecking into crevices and will soon join in on the feedings.
Ive had these in with Copperband in my store displays and never an issue.

Aparker2005 · Jan 19, 2023

And seems they've worked it out already. The LN is out fully in the tank now with no chasing going on. Now ready to see if it'll start eating. It's picking at rocks occasionally

Midrats · Jan 19, 2023

Your corals may be on the menu.

Aparker2005 · Jan 21, 2023

So as I figured, the foxface has finally accepted the long nose. Now to get the little thing to eat. It's looking around the rocks but I haven't seen it take anything just yet, maybe it does when I'm not around. I got a food pouch in the mail today. Maybe that will help.

BZOFIQ · Jan 21, 2023

Very nice fish! Hope he does well for you.

Aparker2005 · Jan 22, 2023

Caught it picking at the Hikari clam I put in earlier! Yes!

Aparker2005 · Jan 22, 2023

And now is eating from the water column! So relieved lol

Aparker2005 · Jan 25, 2023

I think we're good to go with this one. It's nearly out competing our young orange shoulder tang for food now. Very encouraging after 3 disappointing, and completely random, Copperband losses

i cant think · Jan 26, 2023

Aparker2005 said:
I think we're good to go with this one. It's nearly out competing our young orange shoulder tang for food now. Very encouraging after 3 disappointing, and completely random, Copperband losses

Great news to hear!
Maybe now you’ve cracked the code to CBBs